Piano action spoon



Feb. 2, 1965 c. w. ANDERSEN 3,167,993

PIANO ACTION SPOON Filed March 25, 1963 1N VENTOR.

Ckfford/ZM BY drzaerwem g aAw, 7% 11/0/22, /W

United States Patent Ofilice Wurlitzer Company, Chicago, Ill, a corporation of Qhio Filed Mar. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 257,597 4 Claims. (Ci. 84-24%) This invention relates generally to pianos and analogous musical instruments and relates more particularly to the piano action part known as a spoon.

According to conventional practices, a post-type actuator is mounted on the whip of a piano action mechanism adjacent one end thereof to coact with a pivotal damper lever. This post-type actuator is ordinarily made of metal so that it may be readily driven into the material of the whip; and in order that it may present a rounded surface to the cooperating, felt-covered surface of the damper lever, whereby to reduce its abrading action on such surface, this post-type actuator is provided with a shallow-bowled head resembling that of a teaspoon, hence, the common name spoon.

However, only the convex surface of the head of the spoon is adapted for contacting the damper lever felt. Therefore, care must be exercised that the edges of the bowled head of the spoon are not positioned to confront the damper lever in such a manner as to permit digging into the felt. Because of the asymmetric nature of the spoon, the part cannot be fed mechanically; and resort must be had to semi-automatic assembly procedures wherein the spoon is positioned manually. Not all workers possess the necesary skill and dexterity for this operation; and accordingly, malpositioned spoons are sometimes encountered in piano manufacture. The asymmetric nature of conventional piano action spoon also presents difficulties and inconveniences during repair of an action mechanism where a worn or broken spoon must be replaced.

Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved post-type actuator for use in a piano action mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a piano action spoon that can be easily and accurately positioned with respect to its cooperating whip.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a piano action spoon that is capable of being fed mechanically.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide a piano action spoon having a symmetrical head.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following disclosure.

A spoon element in accord with the invention includes a shank portion having a longitudinal axis and a head portion on the shank portion, the head portion being substantially a solid of revolution having its geometric center substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shank portion.

In order that the principles of the invention may be readily understood, several embodiments thereof, but to which the application is not to be restricted, are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

PEG. 1 is an end elevational view taken in cross-section through a piano structure to show the mounting and cooperation of the various parts in an individual action mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the spoon element employed in the piano action mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the showing of FIG. 2 but F pivot pin 4-4.

3,167,993 Patented Feb. 2, 1%65 illustrating a modified form of the spoon element of the invention;

P16. 5 is a view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to the showing of FIG. 4 but illustrating a still further modified embodiment of the invention; and

PEG. 7 is a view taken substantially along the line 7--7 of PEG. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to FIG. 1, a piano structure is shown to include a front panel 10, a keybed 12 and a frame 14. In accordance with conventional practice, a string plate 16 is affixed to the frame 14- for supporting piano strings such as piano string 18. in further accord with conventional practice, a balance rail, not shown, is mounted on a plate 20 that is fastened to keybed 12, the balance rail acting to support and fulcrum a number of piano key levers such as piano key lever 22.

Depression of the piano key lever 22 is arranged to cause a striking of the corresponding piano string 18 through a piano action mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 24. The action mechanism 24 is mounted in the piano structure by means of a number of action brackets 26, each of the action brackets 26 being fastened to the backplate 16 by means including a tubular action spacer 28. A main rail 33, a spring rail 32 and a hammer rail 34 extend through the piano structure to be affixed to each of the action brackets 26 for purposes of supporting the individual action components.

The action mechanism 24 specifically includes a hammer 36 which is mounted to a butt knuckle 38 by a hammer shank 40, the butt knuckle 38 being pivotally mounted to the main rail 3% by a butt flange 42 and a Depression of the piano key lever 22 is arranged to actuate hammer 36 by means of a sticker or abstract 46 that is detachably amxed at one end to the key lever 22 by means of a keyfork 48 and a rubber grommet 56. The sticker 45 is swingably mounted at its other end to a whip by means of a pivot pin 54. The whip a whip flange S6 and a pivot pin 53. Thus, the whip 52 52, in turn, is pivotally mounted to the main rail 30 by and the hammer butt 38 are mounted to swing about pivto axes which are spaced apart from one another. A fly or jack so is pivotally mounted and spaced apart from whip 52 by a fly flange 62. A depression of a piano key lever 22 causes actuation of the hammer 36 by transmitting force thereto through the fly or jack 6% and the butt knuckle A backcheck 66 is mounted on the whip 52 in upstanding relationship by means of a backcheck wire or rod 63; and a catcher 74? is secured to the butt knuckle 38 by means of a catcher stem or shank 72 which radiates from the butt knuckle.

The action mechanism 24. also includes a spoon element 74 which is attached to the whip 5'2 to extend upwardly therefrom, spoon element 74 being disposed on the end of the whip which is opposite the connection with abstract as. Upon actuation of the whip 52 by means of the key lever 22, the spoon 74- contacts one end of a damper lever 76, damper lever '76 being swingably mounted to the main rail Bit by means of a damper lever flange 78 and a pivot pin Stl. Thus, the whip and the damper lever are mounted to pivot about spaced axes. The spoon 7 5 is specifically arranged to operate damper lever '76 so as to retract a damper head 82 from contact with the piano string 13 immediately in advance of the hammer as striking the string. The damper lever includes and actuatable end portion which is provided with a felt cushion 84, the actuatable end portion of damper lever '76 being disposed adjacent whip 52 in spaced-apart relationship therewith to locate cushion 84 in confronting relation with the head of spoon element '74.

fied embodiments are shown.

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the spoon element '74 is seen to comprise an elongated cylindrical shank portion 86 which includes an end formation 88 that is adapted for use in assemblying the spoon element to the whip 52. The end formation 38 is fluted with axially extending ridges 9i) and includes a tapered or chamfered terminus 92. The tapered terminus 92 serves to lead the shank portion of spoon element 74 into the material of the whip; and when embedded in the material of the whip, the ridges 9% act to hold the spoon element in place.

In addition to the shank portion 86, the spoon element 74 includes a head portion 94 which is mounted on the shank portion 86 opposite the end formation $8. In compliance with an important feature of the invention, the head portion 94 describes a spheroidal solid of revolution whose geometric center is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shank portion 86. So arranged and disposed, the head portion $4 presents a convex surface to the cushion 84 of damper lever 76 regardless of the relative positioning of the spoon element and the actuatable end portion of the damper lever. Furthermore, the described spoon element is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the shank portion 36 and is, therefore, capable of being handled mechanically as to be fed from automatic hopper machines and driven automatically into wl u'p components.

Ordinarily, the spoon element 74 is made from metal with the shank portion 86, the end formation 83, and the head portion '94 formed integral; and one suitable method of making the spoon element involves heading a suitable length of wire and subsequently crushing the part to its final shape.

The head portion 94 is shown as being specifically an ellipsoid of revolution whose major axis is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shank portion 86; and while this form has proved especially useful, certain other shapes provide adequate usefulness for the purposes of the present invention. Therefore and in order to enhance the understanding of the invention, two modi- Since the modified embodiments incorporate similar component parts, like numerals have been used to designate like parts in the several figures. The suliix letter a is, however, employed to distinguish those elements associated with the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 whereas the suffix letter b is used to differentiate those elements associated with the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is particularly characterized by arranging the head portion Ma of the spoon element to take ellipsoidal shape, the major axis of the ellipsoidal head portion 940. being shortened some what as compared with the major axis of the ellipsoidal head 94. On the other hand, the transverse axis of the ellipsoidal head portion 940 is substantially enlarged over the transverse axis of the ellipsoidal head portion Being somewhat more rounded therefore, the head portion 9% is somewhat less critical with respect to the need for positioning the longitudinal axis of its associated shank portion parallel with the normal position of the longitudinal axis of the cooperating damper lever.

The embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is distinguished by the provision of head portion 94b in the shape of a sphere whose geometric center is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of its cooperating shank portion 865. Because of its complete symmetry, the head portion 94b is capable of being formed as a separate element that can be secured in place on the shank portion 861; with a fusion joint therebetween. Furthermore, the head portion 94!) need not be formed as a solid element according to the showin in the drawing, rather it may be formed as a hollow globe; and for purposes of the present invention, a hollow member is considered to be equivalent to a solid member for the head portion of the spoon element.

The specific examples herein shown and described are to be considered as being primarily illustrative. Various changes beyond those described will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and such changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A post-type actuator for use in a piano action mechanism, said actuator comprising: a shank portion having a longitudinal axis and including an end formation adapted for assembly to a whip; and a substantially rigid head portion on said shank portion opposite said end formation for actuatably contacting a resiliently surfaced portion of a pivotally mounted damper lever, said head portion being substantially a solid of revolution and having its geometric center substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said shank portion.

2. A post-type actuator for use in a piano action mechanism, said actuator comprising: a shank portion having a longitudinal axis and including an end formation adapted for assembly to a whip; and a substantially rigid head portion on said shank portion opposite said end formation for actuatably contacting a resiliently surfaced portion of a pivotally mounted damper lever, said head portion being a sphere having its geometric center substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said shank portion.

3. A post-type actuator for use in a piano action mechanism, said actuator comprising: a shank portion having a longitudinal axis and including an end formation adapted for assembly to a whip; and a substantially rigid head portion on said shank portion opposite said end formation for actuatably contacting a resiliently surfaced portion of a pivotally mounted damper lever, said head portion being substantially an ellipsoid of revolution having its geometric center substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said shank portion.

4. A post-type actuator for use in a piano action mechanism, said actuator comprising: a shank portion having a longitudinal axis and including an end formation adapted for assembly to a whip; and a substantially rigid head portion on said shank portion opposite said end formation for actuatably contacting a resiliently surfaced portion of a pivotally mounted damper lever, said head portion being substantially an ellipsoid of revolution whose major axis is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said shank portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,917,962 Ballet Dec. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 600,625 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1948 

1. A POST-TYPE ACTUATOR FOR USE IN A PIANO ACTION MECHANISM, SAID ACTUATOR COMPRISING: A SHANK PORTION HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND INCLUDING AN END FORMATION ADAPTED FOR ASSEMBLY TO A WHIP; AND A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID HEAD PORTION ON SAID SHANK PORTION OPPOSITE SAID END FORMATION FOR ACTUATABLY CONTACTING A RESILIENTLY SURFACED PORTION OF A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DAMPER LEVER, SAID HEAD PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY A SOLID OF REVOLUTION AND HAVING ITS GEOMETRIC CENTER SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID SHANK PORTION. 